McAree will ‘Never Walk Alone’

SINCE Liverpool Football Club were crowned league champions for the first time in 30 years after nearest rivals Manchester City were defeated 2-1 by Chelsea 10 days ago many have attempted to draw comparisons between Jurgen Klopp’s class of 2020 and the last Reds team to capture the English top flight honours back in the1989-90 season.

Back then the Premiership was known as the old English First Division and under former player Kenny Dalglish the Merseysiders had clinched a record 18th title. That triumph marked the end of an era in terms of league glory and while Liverpool went on to win many other trophies, including two more Champions League successes, the Premiership had eluded them until last week.

The summer following that 1989-90 triumph a talented 15-year-old lad from Tyrone arrived at Anfield. His name was Rodney McAree and having cheered on his boyhood heroes from his home in Dungannon all of a sudden he found himself rubbing shoulders with John Barnes, Ian Rush, Bruce Grobbelaar and the like on a daily basis.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S ULSTER AND DUNGANNON HERALD